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If you were a patient of Dr. David Broadbent, even once, you may have been sexually assaulted. Contact us privately for a free consultation.
Dr. Broadbent Lawsuit
What Are the Allegations Against Dr. Broadbent?
A 2023 “Mormon Stories” podcast featuring Stephanie Mateer, a former Broadbent patient who alleged in 2021 that Broadbent sexually assaulted her during her first-ever gynecological exam at age 18, broke the dam for hundreds of his former patients who felt something had been “off” during the uncomfortable, often painful exams, but weren’t certain where to draw the lines.
If something felt wrong or “off” during your appointment with Dr. Broadbent, it probably was. Please contact us for a private consultation.
It was Mateer who first called Broadbent’s treatment “sexual assault.”
“It’s just pretty crazy that a doctor can, like, sexually assault women and be protected by the white coat, you know,” she said. “I remember I felt violated. I felt like that was so wrong, and it felt so off to me.”1
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What Does Sexual Assault by a Doctor Look Like?
It is crucial to know the definitions of doctor sexual assault to help you know if your experience makes you an assault survivor, since doctor assault can include many types of inappropriate behavior:
- Lingering touches
- Refusal to allow family/friend/nurse in the room
- Refusal to answer questions about what they’re doing
- Refusal to ask your permission
- Having an erection while examining the patient
- Overtly or intrusive sexual questions/comments
- Asking patient for a date
- Telling the patient no one will believe her
- Threats to keep the patient quiet
- Unnecessary/ungloved vaginal exams
- Unnecessary/ungloved rectal exams
- Inappropriate use of medical instruments
- Inappropriate/sexualized touching
- Masturbating the patient
- Masturbating in front of the patient
- Asking for sexual favors
- Rape
- Sodomy
What Did Broadbent Do?
The Utah OBGYN, now 75, practiced for 47 years near Brigham Young University & Utah Valley University in the Provo/Orem/Salt Lake City area, where young girls often receive their first-ever gynecological exam in preparation for marriage or using birth control. Sure, some naïveté is expected at one’s first gynecological exam, but not enough to overcome gut instinct.
Also nearby were housing developments for young Mormon couples where expectant mothers found it convenient to visit Broadbent’s office.
Women coming forward say he groped their breasts with his hands (not just fingertips) when their appointment was only for a pap smear; or painfully, without warning or explanation, performed aggressive vaginal and rectal exams using no gloves or speculum.
One said he grabbed her leg “in what felt like a sexual manner” before beginning a painful vaginal examination; another said he had an erection while touching her. Still another said his forceful vaginal exam caused her to miscarry. Mateer said after her chilling exam, he said, “Your husband’s a lucky man.”
Broadbent’s attorneys deny the allegations and say the women’s charges are “without merit.”
Why Are We Talking About This Now?
The 94 women who banded together after “Stephanie’s Story” aired, filed the original civil lawsuit against Broadbent in September 2022, but a judge dismissed the case on grounds that the matter should come under medical malpractice.
Then the “original 94” took their case before the Utah Supreme Court.
The Utah Supreme Court overturned the 2022 ruling on August 8, 2024, with a startling summary opinion: “Sexual assault is not health care, and it isn’t covered by Utah’s medical malpractice law.” The reversal quickly doubled the number of plaintiffs to 200, with the latest count in September 2024 well exceeding 200, not counting untold survivors who have yet to tell their story.
Utah Supreme Court Justice Paige Petersen wrote in the unanimous ruling: “Here, the [women] do not allege they were injured by any health care that Broadbent may have provided them. Rather, they allege that he abused his position as their doctor to sexually assault them under the pretense of providing health care,” she said, continuing, “The point of their claims is that his actions were not really health care at all.”3
Judge Petersen added that the women bringing charges against Broadbent are not claiming they were hurt by any health care he provided them, but rather by his abusing the professional authority he held as a physician under the guise of providing health care.
In addition, the Dr. Broadbent lawsuit has prompted revision of the Utah Medical Malpractice Act, with the Utah Legislature poised to pass a bill (pending Governor Spencer Cox’s signature) that would reform the medical malpractice law to exclude sexual assault.4
Where Did Dr. Broadbent Practice?
It is important to reiterate that Broadbent practiced for nearly half a century near the campuses of Brigham Young University & Utah Valley University near Provo & Salt Lake City, where young girls often receive their first-ever gynecological exam in preparation for marriage.
After practicing as an OBGYN in several Utah clinics and area hospitals for 47 years, Dr. Broadbent opened a private practice later in his career.
The area hospitals and clinics included:
- Utah Valley Hospital (operated by Intermountain Healthcare)
- Timpanogos Hospital (operated by MountainStar Healthcare)
- Other Utah healthcare providers
- Broadbent’s office (1355 N University Ave #130, Provo, UT 84604) near Utah Valley University & Brigham Young University
Sidenote: In 1990, adverse action was taken against his medical license.
Is There a Dr. Broadbent Lawsuit?
Yes, and since the August 8, 2024, Supreme Court ruling, the civil cases are exploding. In addition, the first criminal charges were filed in August 2024. If you experienced inappropriate behavior by David H. Broadbent between 1979 and 2022, you may be able to join the Dr. Broadbent lawsuit.
How Can A Case for Women Help Me?
Because we are a company of 70 women, founded eight years ago by women, the chances are far greater that we will understand your experience.
We were founded to protect women by informing them/you of danger before it affects you. Failing that, we set out to help you seek justice if harm has already befallen you. This case is a perfect example.
To give you a better idea of how we’ve come to know this case area, we’ve already helped thousands of women fight predator doctors like Dr. Larry Nassar, Dr. Robert Anderson, Dr. Richard Strauss, Dr. Fabio Ortega, Dr. John Carl Hoefs, and sexual abuse in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as the Catholic Church, Uber (rideshare), and the Troubled Teen Industry.
A Case for Women teams up with law firms we have known through years of working sensitive cases together. It is important to us that each of our lawyers understands the trauma behind sexual assault. They do. We do.
We’re here to help 100% and are here 24/7/365 when you’re ready to talk.
Stephanie Mateer said she cried “tears of relief” when she read the Utah Supreme Court’s ruling. “I hope it gives other alleged victims the courage to speak up and to seek their own justice.”
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Sources
- Jessica Miller, “Utah Supreme Court Rules That Alleged Sexual Assault by a Doctor Is Not “Health Care” Salt Lake City Tribune co-published with ProPublica, August 4, 2024.
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Ibid.
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Scott Lewis, Sarah Murphy, “Women feel ‘vindicated’ as Utah Supreme Court clears way for them to sue Provo OB-GYN for sexual assault,” ABC Salt Lake City, August 8, 2024.
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Jessica Miller Scheifels, “They sued their Utah OB-GYN alleging sexual assault, but their lawsuit was thrown out. Now, their case is set to change state law,” The Salt Lake Tribune, March 23, 2024
